Sanitary napkin

ABSTRACT

A sanitary napkin which is formed in either a curved or flat configuration, tapered toward its rearward end, and is maintained in its shaped configuration by deep embossed channels impressed through the cover and into the core of the napkin to compression bond the two components together. The deep embossed channels are positioned near the lateral and end edges on the top surface of the napkin and at the rearward end on the bottom surface of the napkin.

United States Patent lnventor Ernest Mogor North Brunswick, NJ. 840,962

July 11, 1969 Apr. 20, 1971 Personal Products Company Appl. No. FiledPatented Assignee SANITARY NAPKIN 6 Claims, 20 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl Int. Cl Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,331,355 10/1943 Strongson 2,566,325 9/1951 Ganz 128/290 2,747,5755/1956 Mercer 128/290 2,964,041 12/ 1960 Ashton et a1 128/290 3,411,50411/1968 Glassman 128/290 Primary Examiner-Charles F. RosenbaumAtt0rneys-Wr Frederick Mayer, Jr. and Robert L. Minier ABSTRACT: Asanitary napkin which is formed in either a curved or flatconfiguration, tapered toward its rearward end, and is maintained in itsshaped configuration by deep embossed channels impressed through thecover and into the core of the napkin to compression bond the twocomponents together. The deep embossed channels are positioned near thelateral and end edges on the top surface of the napkin and at therearward end on the bottom surface of the napkin.

PATENTED APRZU l9?! SHEET 1 BF 5 PATENTEDAPRZOIQYI 3575174 SHEET 2 BF 5INVENTOR fPA/Ej r I f Mayo 4 ATTORN PATENTEU APRZO 1m SHEET 3 BF 5INVENTOR 1W I ATTORNEY PATEN-TED m2 0 m saw u 0F 5 0/? l%' ATTORNEYsahrrahv NAlPlltllN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto sanitary napkins and more particularly to an improved taperedsanitary napkin having structural and form stability whether formed intoa curved, tapered configuration or a flat, tapered configuration.

Sanitary napkins have been made in a variety of shapes and haveincorporated numerous structural features in attempts to provide anarticle of such nature which fulfills its absorbing function and whichis also comfortable and nonchaffing when worn. in some instances theprovision of a more effective absorbing medium has been emphasizedwhereas in others a greater consideration has been given to providing asanitary napkin which fits comfortably.

Sanitary napkins commonly used are characterized by having the shape ofa rectangular parallelepipedon and include an enclosing cover of fluidpermeable material which is elongated at both ends of the napkin toprovide attachment tabs intended to be secured to sanitary belt claspsat the front and rear of the wearer. ln use, suspensory tension forcesbend the ends of the sanitary napkin upwardly in a longitudinaldirection while compression forces, particularly in the region rearwardof thevulva between the buttocks, bend the sides of the napkinsdownwardly in a transverse direction so that the napkin will conform tothe contours of the female pubic area. Such external forces causing thepad to bend and bunch up to fit the anatomy of the pubic area, produceirregular surfaces in the napkin, particularly in those portions of thesanitary napkin adapted to be placed adjacent the wearer. Theirregularities generally take the fonn of folds, triangles, valleys,ridges or flutes and are most severe just forward of the downwardlyfolded posterior section preventing intimate contact between the napkinand the wearer in the area of the vulva where a snug fit is mostrequisite. In addition, tension on the attachment tabs necessary tomaintain the folded shapes produces discomfort and irritation.

To alleviate this problem, at least to some extent, sanitary napkinshave been made with rearward portions of reduced size to more nearlyconform them with the configuration of the anatomy in the area of thebuttocks. Such a reduction in size has been accomplished by reducing theamount of absorbent material in the rearward end of the napkin either bycutting away portions of the napkin along the sides at the rearward endor forming the napkin initially with less absorbent material in therearward portion. While generally such procedures have been satisfactoryfrom the standpoint of comfort, considerable sacrifice is made withrespect to providing an effective absorbing medium for the overallperformance of the sanitary napkin.

Another approach, in addition to forming a sanitary napkin with areduced size in the rearward portion, has been to provide a sanitarynapkin having a preformed arcuate configuration in the longitudinaldirection thereby obviating the tensional forces required to be appliedthrough the attachment tabs and suspensory devices for bending aninitially flat sanitary napkin into the desired arcuate configurationconforming to the anatomy existent in the perineal region of the female.For sanitary napkins to obtain such a preformed, arcuate configuration,it has been necessary to build in stabilizing forces within the napkinitself. This has usually been provided by having shrinkable elementsstrategically placed within the sanitary napkin or by havingthermoplastic or thermosetting moldable elements strategicallydistributed through the napkin which, upon activation by heat orchemical treatment, are effective to draw the sanitary napkin into thedesired arcuate configuration or which, by placement into suitablemolding forms, are effective to mold the sanitary napkin into itsdesired configuration. Such approaches, however, have had a two-folddisadvantage. Firstly, the necessary steps of shrinking or of moldinghave reduced the rate at which such sanitary napkins can be formed in asanitary napkin production line thereby substantially increasing thecost thereof beyond that which is economically feasible for a consumerproduct. Secondly, the inclusion of such shrinkable or moldable elementsin such sanitary napkins have substantially reduced the effectiveabsorption characteristics thereof. The sanitary napkin of the presentinvention eliminates, among others, all of the above problems anddifficulties and provides a sanitary napkin which not only fitscomfortably but also fulfills its absorbing function to a greatlyimproved extent.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention a sanitarynapkin is provided having a highly effective absorbent core portion. Thenapkin is so constructed that it is maintained comfortably in direct andintimate contact with the body of the wearer so that its inherentabsorbing capacity is effectively utilized. The sanitary napkincomprises, generally, a core of absorbent fibrous material and a fluidpervious cover overlying at least the surface of the core adapted to beworn against the body. The cover and the core are compression bondedtogether on the top surface of said core along relatively narrowembossed lines spaced inwardly from the lateral and end edges of thenapkin. The embossed lines form dense channels extending longitudinallynear the lateral edges of the napkin and dense channels extendingtransversely near each of the end edges of the napkin. Thelongitudinally extending and the transversely extending channels areconnected together at their respective ends and are impressed to a depthof at least one-half the thickness of the napkin. A deeply embossedwedge-shaped channel is impressed from the bottom of the napkin at therearward end, the apex of the wedge-shaped channel being positionedmedially and directed towards the forward end of the napkin. Thewedge-shaped channel extends forwardly in the napkin a distance lessthan half the length of the napkin and forms a correspondingly shapedand positioned ridge on the top of the napkin so that the napkin isnarrowed at the rearward end thereof without reducing the amount ofabsorbent material existent in the rearward end of the napkin.

A significant feature of the sanitary napkin of the present invention isthe manner in which the cover and the absorbent core are compressionbonded together within the aforementioned embossing channels to impartto the preformed napkin form stability and integrity thereby minimizingundesirable distortions of the napkin when worn and assuring desirableconformability of the napkin, thus making the napkin more comfortable tothe wearer.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the napkin can bepreformed in an arcuate configuration in the longitudinal direction,i.e., the ends curving upwardly to conform to the exterior female pubicarea. The longitudinally extending channels embossed into the napkinimpart thereto structural stability and integrity thereby maintainingthe napkin in its desired arcuate configuration.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the sanitary napkincan be made with or without attachment tabs. When it is desired toprovide a tabless napkin, the cover material existent at the ends of thenapkin is folded upon itself and is compression bonded to the napkinwithin the transversely extending channels embossed near the ends of thenapkin.

These and other attendant features and advantages of the presentinvention will become even more apparent from the detailed descriptionof the preferred embodiments presented below when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the sanitary napkinshown upside down to present the bottom view;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the napkin of FlG. l as seen from thetop;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sanitary napkin viewed from the bottom andwhich shows in phantom lives the shape of the sanitary napkin prior tobeing formed into a tapered configuration in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the sanitarynapkin showing shortened tabs of cover material at the ends of the corewhich will ultimately be folded to provide the sanitary napkin intabless form;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the completed napkin embodiment of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the napkins of FIGS. 7and 8 showing the folding over and securing of the cover at the end ofthe napkin;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a flat embodiment of the sanitarynapkin shown in tabless form but with attachment tabs also shown inphantom lines.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus for making an arcuatelyshaped sanitary napkin in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is another diagrammatic view of the apparatus of FIG. 11 butshowing a sanitary napkin being formed into its arcuate configuration ata different stage of its manufacture;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus for making a flat sanitarynapkin in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 13 showing theformation of the tapered rearward end of the sanitary napkin of thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of the apparatus andnapkin taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the anvil plate of the apparatusdepicted in FIGS. 11 through 15 showing the wedge-shaped forming memberused to form the tapered rearward portion of the sanitary napkin of thepresent invention;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the embossing roll of theapparatus of FIGS. ll through I5 showing the embossing die forimpressing into the top of the napkin the longitudinally extending andtransversely extending channels;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary, frontal view taken approximately along line18-18 of FIG. 12;

FIG. I9 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of FIG. 11, but showinga sanitary napkin being formed into an arcuate configuration withoutattachment tabs; and

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of FIG. 13, but showinga flat sanitary napkin being formed without attachment tabs.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIGS. 1 through 6, a sanitarynapkin 10 is shown having an absorbent core I2 and a fluid perviouscover 14 around the core and which extends beyond the ends thereof toform attachment tabs 16. The absorbent core 12 is made of any of theconventional materials known for their excellent absorbent propertiessuch as absorbent cotton, woodpulp fibers, paper wadding and othernatural or synthetic fibrous materials or combinations thereof. Inaddition, the absorbent core can be provided with a protective fluidbarrier 18 of repellent paper, polyethylene or other similar materialsoverlying the bottom surface of the core and extending upwardly over thesides thereof.

The fluid pervious cover 14 similarly can be made of any of theconventional materials commonly used for this purpose such as gauze,nonwoven fabrics, papers, and the like. However, the unique constructionand structural relationships of the napkin of the present inventionpermit use of very open cover materials 14a overlying the top surface ofthe napkin. Such open cover materials are ideal for fluid penetrationinto the absorbent core but they are possessed of too little tensilestrength to function properly as a supporting structure. Support is thenprovided by using cover materials Nb of increased tensile strengths butless open area, to cover the bottom and side surfaces of the napkin.Suitable, by way of example, is a top surface cover 14a of a loose knitfabric such as tricot, or a low-count woven gauze, or a low-countnonwoven scrim material, and the like. The remainder 14b of the cover 14can then be made ofa much tighter fabric such as nonwoven Masslin,paper, high-count woven gauze, highcount scrim material and other suchmaterials having greater tensile strength than the top surface covermaterial 14a, and lesser free area.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 through 6, a sanitary napkin 10 isformed into an arcuate and tapered configuration and is structurallystabilized in that form by a pair of longitudinally extending channels20 embossed into the napkin from the top surface. By embossing thechannels 20 into the napkin to a depth greater than one-half thethickness of the napkin, the portion of the core 12 underlying thechannels 20 obtains a density sufficient to hold the napkin 10 in itsdesired configuration. Further adding to the structural stability in thesanitary napkin I0 is the cover 14 intimately bonded by compression tothe core 12 all along the base of the deeply embossed channels 20. Thisoccurs as a result of forming the deeply embossed channels 20 into thenapkin after the absorbent core has first been covered with the desiredcover material 14.

Structural stability of the sanitary in the transverse direction is alsoprovided by forming deeply embossed channels 22 adjacent each end of thesanitary napkin 10, which channels 22 interconnect the ends of thelongitudinally embossed channels 20.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, the napkin 10, inaccordance with the present invention, is formed and maintained into atapered configuration by impressing a deeply embossed, wedge-shapedchannel 25 upwardly from the bottom of the napkin at the rearward endthereof. As the napkin is formed, in a manner described more fullyhereafter, the wedge-shaped channel 25 raises the central portion of thenapkin at its rearward end causing the sides of the napkin to drawinwardly, thus tapering the napkin 10 at its rearward end. To assure theproper tapered configuration, the wedgeshaped embossment 25 extendsforwardly from the rearward end of the napkin a distance less than halfthe length of the napkin pad I2. In this manner the forward portion ofthe sanitary napkin provides the major absorbing capacity in the area ofthe napkin which is placed directly against the vaginal opening when thenapkin is worn. The rearward portion of the napkin, because it isnarrowed in the manner described, fits comfortably in the area betweenthe buttocks and because there has been no reduction in materialexistent in the rearward portion of the absorbent core, there is noreduction in its absorbent capabilities. The wedge-shaped channel 25 isalso impressed upwardly to a depth of at least one-half the thickness ofthe napkin but the upper surface of the napkin existent above thewedge-shaped channel is permitted to yield thereby forming acorrespondingly shaped and positioned ridge 26 on the top surface of thenapkin. Because the wedgeshaped channel 25 is thus deeply embossed intothe rearward portion of the napkin through the cover material 14, theabsorbent core 12 is densified and the cover material 14 is bondedthereto by compression, thus imparting the required form stability andintegrity holding the napkin 10 in its desired tapered configuration.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIGS. 7 through 9, a tablesssanitary napkin 10 can be made conveniently and neatly in accordancewith the present invention. Prior to forming the deeply embossedchannels 20 and 22in the top of the sanitary napkin I0 and thewedge-shaped channel 25 in the bottom at the rearward portion of thenapkin, the cover material 14 existent beyond the ends of the napkin iscut off shorter than if a sanitary napkin with attachment tabs 16 wereto be provided. The shorter tabs 27 are then folded back over the topsurface of the sanitary napkin I0 and the ends thereof reach to a pointwhere the transverse channels 22 ultimately will be embossed near theend edges of the sanitary napkin. When the transverse channels 22 areembossed into the sanitary napkin llti in a manner to be more fullydescribed hereafter, the ends of the shortened cover tabs 27 arecompression bonded to the cover 14 and the absorbent core R2 at the baseof the deeply embossed transverse channels 22. (FIGS. 8 and it). Theembossing operation is effective to apply a stretching force on theshortened tabs 27 that are folded back over the top surface of thesanitary napkin so as to pull it tautly over the ends thereof andprovide a neat and tightly secured overwrap at the ends of the absorbentcore 12.

Similarly, in FIG. 10, another embodiment of the sanitary napkin of thepresent invention is shown in which the napkin it), rather thanobtaining an arcuate configuration, is formed flat. Attachment tabs 16formed from the cover material l4 surrounding the absorbent core 112 canbe provided extending beyond the ends of the absorbent core I2 in thesame manner as the embodiment described with respect to FIGS. I through6. (Phantom lines FIG. Iii). Also, a tabless napkin 110 can be formed ina flat configuration in the identical manner as described with respectto the arcuate napkin depicted in FIGS. 7 through 9, the only differencebetween the arcuate napkin and the fiat napkin being in the methods ofmanufacture which are described more fully below.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and I2, suitable apparatus for forming thecurved or arcuate sanitary napkin R0 of the present invention arediagrammatically shown. Individual pads 12 of fibrous material of thetype described hereinabove are first placed in longitudinal spacedrelation upon a continuous length of cover material 14b which is ofsufficient width to cover the bottom surface of the core 112 and wrapupwardly over the sides and onto the top surface of the core 12 so as toreach the position where the longitudinally embossed channels 28 willultimately be formed in the top surface of the napkin lit). The topsurface cover l4a is fed continuously to the tops of the longitudinallyspaced pads 12 and is of sufficient width to cover the space definedbetween and overlap the edges of the wrapped cover 1l4b that are spacedapart on the top surface of the cores 112. The overlapped edges of thetwo cover materials 14a and I4!) are then secured together by applying aline of suitable adhesive on each of the longitudinally extendingoverlaps to form a complete cover l4 surrounding the absorbent cores112.

The above-described assembly of cores l2 and cover material i4 is thenfed onto a timed and moving continuous belt 28 of interconnected anvilplates 30 which, at their interconnection, are adapted to hinge topermit the continuous belt 28 to bend around the driving pulleys 32.Spaced above the continuous anvil belt 28 and driven at acircumferential speed equal to the linear speed of the continuous belt28 is an embossing die roll 34 having one or more embossing dies 35secured to the peripheral surface thereof. The embossing die 35 securedto the embossing roll 34 is spaced about the periphery thereof so as tocoincide with the longitudinally spaced absorbent cores 12 positionedwithin the continuous length of cover material 114 being carried by thecontinuous anvil belt 28. The continuous anvil belt 28 includes, atspaced intervals, anvil plates 30 having provided thereon at therearward end of each an upwardly projecting wedge-shaped member 36 (FIG.16) which are so spaced and timed to coincide with the rearward portionof the longitudinally spaced absorbent cores l2 being carried thereby inthe continuous length of cover material 14. The space between thedieTcarrying embossing roll 34 and the continuous anvil belt 28 definesa nip into which the individual pads 112 of absorbent material beingcarried by the continuous length of cover material 14 is fed and the die35 carried by the embossing roll 34 is timed to form the deeply embossedlongitudinal and transverse 22 channels into the top of the napkin It)to a depth greater than one-half the thickness of the napkin. Similarly,the wedge-shaped embossing member 36 carried by spaced anvils of thecontinuous anvil belt 28 are timed to impress the wedge-shaped channel25 at the rearward end of the sanitary napkin 10 as the individual pads12 of core material carried by the continuous length of cover material14 pass through the nip-defined between the diecarrying roll 34 and thecontinuous anvil belt 28. The continuous anvil belt 28 is supported frombelow by a fixed anvil table member 40 so that the die 35 carried by theembossing roll 34 is impressed against the anvil 30 without the latteryielding under the pressure of the die-embossing roll 34.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 11, I2 and 18, means are provided forcarrying away the embossed and formed sanitary napkins It) from theembossing station. Located at a level above the nip defined between theembossing roll and the continuously moving anvil belt is a doctor blade42 for removing the napkins 10 from the embossing roll. By being solocated, the sanitary napkins l0 assume an arcuate configuration, i.e.,the ends thereof are bent upwardly into the curved form described withrespect to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 9. It is found thatby permitting the embossed napkins to continue an arcuate travel beyondthe point of the nip causes them to be formed into the desired arcuateconfiguration. However, since the embossing die 35 impresses very deepchannels 20 and 22 into the top surface of the sanitary napkin It), thenapkin tends to adhere to the embossing roll 34 so that the doctor blade42 is provided to peel away the sanitary napkin 110 from the embossingdie. The arcuate napkins l0 thus formed are then conveyed by pullrollers (not shown) across a rotary cutoff station (not shown) where thenapkin cover material 14 existent between the individual pads 12 is cutoff to suitable length to form the attachment tabs I6. From the cutoffstation the napkins 10 are then stacked and packaged into cartons forcommercial distribution.

If it is desired to form the sanitary napkin 10 of the present inventionin flat form, as shown in FIG. M), the napkins are removed from theembossing roll 34 in a line tangential to the embossing roll at the nipdefined between the die-carrying embossing roll and the continuouslymoving anvil belt 28. (FIGS. 13 and 14). To this end, idler rolls 44 areprovided above the continuously moving anvil belt 28 at a distance equalto the approximate thickness of the sanitary napkins 10 being formed andare so positioned such that the individual absorbent cores 12 beingcarried by the continuous length of cover material 14 are caused tocontinue moving forwardly in a line substantially tangential to thecircumference of the embossing roll 34 at a point defined by the nipbetween the embossing roll 34 and the continuously moving anvil belt 28.As with the embodiment described above with respect to the sanitarynapkin made in an arcuate configuration, the sanitary napkin made inflat form is carried forwardly beyond the embossing station to a cutoffmechanism which cuts off the continuous lengths of cover material 14existent between the longitudinally spaced individual pads 12 ofabsorbent core material into the desired lengths to form attachment tabs16. From the cutoff station, the individual pads are then carriedforwardly for stacking and packaging.

To form the sanitary napkins of the present invention in tabless form asdepicted in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10, the cutoff station for cutting thecontinuous length of cover material 114 existent between thelongitudinally spaced cores I2 is positioned in front of the embossingstation described above. The rotary cutoff mechanism cuts off the covermaterial 14 existent between the longitudinally spaced pads 12 at thedesired length for folding back the cover material upon the top surfaceof the sanitary napkin so as to reach a position where the transversechannels 22 will ultimately be formed in the pads. The cutoff tabs 27are then folded back over the top surface of the napkins by any suitablefolding mechanisms (not shown). The individual pads are next fedindividually onto the continuously moving anvil belt 28 inlongitudinally spaced relation following the folding back of the covermaterial l4 onto the top surface of the sanitary napkin 10. Theindividual pads are then fed in the same manner in timed relationshipinto the nip defined between the die-carrying embossing roll 34 and thecontinuously moving anvil belt 28 as described above with respect to thesanitary napkin being formed with attachment tabs 16 and are similarlyformed into tapered napkins having a curved configuration (FIG. 19) or aflat configuration (FIG. 20).

The die 35 presented on the peripheral surface of the embossing roll 34(FIG. 17) consists of a pair of circumferentially extending rails 48which are of a length slightly less than the length of the absorbentcore 14 of the sanitary napkin 10 being made and are of a height greaterthan one-half the thickness of the napkin. The circumferentiallyextending rails 48 are spaced from each other transversely on theperipheral surface of the embossing roll 34 a distance slightly lessthan the width of the napkin l and are directed toward each other ingoing from their forward ends to their rearward ends. The space betweenthe rails 48 thus assuming a tapered configuration causes the napkinbeing formed to be stabilized in the tapered configuration which isformed by the wedge-shaped embossing member 36 on the anvil plates 30.

interconnecting the forward ends of the peripherally extending rails 48is a transversely extending rail 50 which is substantially the sameheight as the height of the peripherally extending rails 48. At theportion of the die 35 which is intended to coincide with the rearwardend of the napkin pad 12 as it passes through the nip defined betweenthe embossing roll 34 and continuously moving anvil belt 28 is awedgeshaped, dished-out portion 52 in the embossing roll 34. Thedished-out portion 52 is traversed by a transversely extending embossingrail 54 that interconnects the rearward ends of the peripherallyextending embossing rails 48 and follows the contour of the dished-outportion 52 at a height substantially equal to the height of theperipherally extending embossing rails 48. The dished-out portion 52 onthe embossing roll is adapted to coincide with the wedge-shapedembossing member 36 existent on the longitudinally spaced anvils 30 thatcarry the sanitary napkins through the nip defined between the embossingroll 34 and the continuously moving anvil belt 28 with the rearwardportion of the napkin l0 overlying the wedge-shaped embossing member 36on the anvil plate 30. As shown particularly in FIG. 14, thewedge-shaped embossing member 36 on the anvil plate 30 forces therearward end of the sanitary napkin pad 10 upwardly into the matingrecess 52 in the embossing roll 34 as the sanitary napkin 10 is passedthrough the nip defined therebetween, thus drawing in the sides of thenapkin 10 at the rearward portion to form a tapered napkin. Thisrelationship at the rearward end of the sanitary napkin 10 as it passesthrough the nip existent between the embossing roll 34 and thecontinuously moving anvil belt 28 carrying the wedge-shaped embossingmember 36 is further shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 15.

All the embodiments of the sanitary napkin herein described and claimedpossess excellent absorption characteristics while at the same time areextremely comfortable to the wearer. The deeply embossed channelsprovide the structural stability and relationships required for a formfit and further, because the absorbent core is very dense in the areaunderlying the channels, fluid transfer is prevented into the marginalportions existent at the edges of the napkin thereby preventing socalled side-spread failure. Additionally, napkins formed in the mannerdescribed have the central portion existent within the boundaries of thetop embossed channels raised upwardly, which, when worn, is pressedupwardly to an even greater extent into intimate contact with theperineal area when forces exerted by the legs of the wearer press theside edges of the napkin inwardly.

It is thus seen that a napkin made in accordance with the presentinvention can be made economically, while still providing a napkin whichis very effective as an absorbent medium and is very comfortable to thewearer. 20

lclaim:

l. A sanitary napkin comprising a core of absorbent fibrous material anda fluid pervious cover overl ing at least the top surface of said core,said cover an said core being compression bonded together on the top ofsaid core along relatively narrow embossed lines spaced inwardly fromthe lateral and end edges of said napkin, said embossed lines forming adense channel extending longitudinally near each of the lateral edges ofsaid napkin and a dense channel extending transversely near each of theend edges of said napkin, said longitudinally extending channels andtransversely extending channels being connected together at theirrespective ends and being impressed to a depth of at least one-half thethickness of said napkin, and a deeply embossed wedgeshaped channelimpressed from the bottom of said napkin at the rearward end thereof,the apex of said wedge-shaped channel being positioned medially anddirected towards the forward end of said napkin and extending a distanceless than half of the length of said napkin, said wedge-shaped channelforming a correspondingly shaped and positioned ridge on the top of saidnapkin whereby the napkin is narrowed at the rearward end thereof.

2. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said napkin is provided withattachment tabs extending beyond the ends thereof.

3. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said napkin is arcuatelongitudinally with its ends being curved upwardly, the arcuateconfiguration of said napkin being stabilized and maintained by saidlongitudinally extending dense channels impressed from the top of saidnapkin.

4. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said napkin is tabless, thecover being folded back upon itself at the forward and rearward endsthereof and being compression bonded to said napkin within saidtransversely extending channels impressed from the top of said napkin.

5. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said cover includes alongitudinally extending fluid-pervious central panel overlying the topsurface of said napkin in the area bonded by said longitudinally andtransversely extending dense channels, said central panel being ofgreater free area than the rest of said cover which extends and overlapssaid core on the bottom surface thereof.

6. The sanitary napkin of claim 5 wherein said central panel of saidcover is a loose knit fabric and the rest of said cover is a nonwovenfabric.

1. A sanitary napkin comprising a core of absorbent fibrous material anda fluid pervious cover overlying at least the top surface of said core,said cover and said core being compression bonded together on the top ofsaid core along relatively narrow embossed lines spaced inwardly fromthe lateral and end edges of said napkin, said embossed lines forming adense channel extending longitudinally near each of the lateral edges ofsaid napkin and a dense channel extending transversely near each of theend edges of said napkin, said longitudinally extending channels andtransversely extending channels being connected together at theirrespective ends and being impressed to a depth of at least one-half thethickness of said napkin, and a deeply embossed wedge-shaped channelimpressed from the bottom of said napkin at the rearward end thereof,the apex of said wedge-shaped channel being positioned medially anddirected towards the forward end of said napkin and extending a distanceless than half of the length of said napkin, said wedge-shaped channelforming a correspondingly shaped and positioned ridge on the top of saidnapkin whereby the napkin is narrowed at the rearward end thereof. 2.The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said napkin is provided withattachment tabs extending beyond the ends thereof.
 3. The sanitarynapkin of claim 1 wherein said napkin is arcuate longitudinally with itsends being curved upwardly, the arcuate configuration of said napkinbeing stabilized and maintained by said longitudinally extending densechannels impressed from the top of said napkin.
 4. The sanitary napkinof claim 1 wherein said napkin is tabless, the cover being folded backupon itself at the forward and rearward ends thereof and beingcompression bonded to said napkin within said transversely extendingchannels impressed from the top of said napkin.
 5. The sanitary napkinof claim 1 wherein said cover includes a longitudinally extendingfluid-pervious central panel overlying the top surface of said napkin inthe area bonded by said longitudinally and transversely extending densechannels, said central panel being of greater free area than the rest ofsaid cover which extends and overlaps said core on the bottom surfacethereof.
 6. The sanitary napkin of claim 5 wherein said central panel ofsaid cover is a loose knit fabric and the rest of said cover is anonwoven fabric.